Harry Shum Jr. Reminds Fans ‘DWTS’ Is ‘Supposed to Be Joyous’ Amid Onscreen & Online Drama

Harry Shum Jr. is taking the high road amid the Dancing With the Stars Season 35 drama. Capping off a week that included an awkward Jan Ravnik–Julianne Hough exchange, a controversial Val Chmerkovskiy comment, and an onscreen disagreement about the rules, Shum had nothing but love to share in an Instagram post on Friday.

“Reminder that this is a dance show,” the Grey’s Anatomy star, currently competing in the ABC reality competition, wrote in his post. “It is supposed to be joyous. People are suffering in the world already, so let’s celebrate each other with more love. I’ll go first.”

Over the next 11 slides of his Instagram upload, Shum praised each of the remaining Season 35 contestants — as well as the recently-eliminated Guillermo Rodriguez.

“Guillermo — how you rallied the people at home and even us on the show to celebrate what dance should mean to people — the joy was bursting through every step you took,” he wrote to the Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick. “I love you, man.”

Shum praised Connor Woods’ “levelheaded perspective on everything” and said the podcaster’s dance routines “are just so fun to watch,” calling him a “body roll king!”

He commended Tatyana Ali on her focus and the joy she brings to motherhood, and he said the Fresh Prince alum’s dances “inspire so many people.”

Shum gave Jackson Olson “massive applause” for learning challenging dances while playing baseball games with the Savannah Bananas, adding, “How cool is it that we can live out what once seemed like just a pipe dream.”

The Glee alum said that he “laugh[s] and laugh[s] and laugh[s]” every time he’s around Maura Higgins and said that the “elegance” the Love Island star brings to the stage amazes him.

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For figure skater Amber Glenn, Shum praised how she “mean[s] business” on the dance floor but is “also so ready to be goofy and funny,” and he gave props to her commitment to her performances.

Shum explained how proud he is of Tyler Cameron’s growth, and he celebrated the former Bachelorette contestant’s confidence, smoothness, and partnership with Sharna Burgess.

He said he sees how special an experience DWTS is for Julia Stiles with every one of her performances, telling the Save the Last Dance star, “You getting to do your iconic dance 20 years later must have been the dream you never knew you needed.”

Shum said he is “blown away” by Ezra Frech’s charisma, ability, and “aura that oozes confidence,” expressing amazement that the Paralympian is “only 21 with this level of maturity.”

He called Jenna Dewan “a powerhouse of a performer” and recalled “how nice and gracious” the dancer and actor was to him when he was starting in the industry.

And in a message to himself, Shum wrote, “Proud of you for not letting anyone take your light and spark away no matter how much they try. Keep being you.”

Indeed, fans on Reddit reacted to Shum’s message by expressing dismay over the vitriol some Season 35 viewers have shared online.

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“Honestly kind of sad they are all feeling it, and especially that the show can’t at least make a statement about all the negativity in the fandom,” one person wrote. “The pros at least will have other seasons, although I wouldn’t blame any of them if they opted to sit out for a while. But for the celebs, this is their only chance. Some of them were big fans of the show and probably excited for the opportunity. I’ve never seen it so bad.”

Another fan wrote, “I love that he posted this, but it also makes me so sad. He said in episode one how he wanted to do the show because of the joy and fun he saw in it, and people on the internet are sucking the life out of everything! Even I’m so tired of the hate, and it’s not directed towards me.”